Syracuse - When U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer came to Syracuse today, it seemed nearly every local elected Democratic official was there to greet him.

Except Assemblywoman Joan Christensen.

At a news conference to discuss how he hopes to improve the region's economy, Schumer thanked each of the dozens of local politicians who were there, including Congressman-elect Dan Maffei, Mayor Matt Driscoll, state Sen. David Valesky, Assemblymen Bill Magnarelli and Al Stirpe, Syracuse Common Councilors Stephanie Minor, Van Robinson, Thomas Seals, and Mike Heaggerty, Auburn Mayor Mike Quill, town supervisors from Camillus, DeWitt, Salina and Marcellus, and even a county legislator or two from Oswego County.

As he thanked the politicians, Schumer looked around, said he thought Assemblywoman Joan Christensen was coming, but noted she was not there.

"I'm very supportive of Sen. Schumer," Christensen, D-Syracuse, explained later. "I want to be his friend. I'm going to ask him for a lot of goodies for New York State."

But the assemblywoman said she learned of the Schumer news conference plans on Monday and was already committed to a meeting in her office at the same time.